When I left for college my freshman year, I felt pretty clueless about what I would actually need on campus. I forgot about so many things that I made a list for myself with every single item I used throughout the year, and I wanted to share it with y’all! Of course, depending on your gender/room size/interests you might not need all of this, or may need some other stuff, but you can use this as a general guide.
I’ve linked to some of my favorite products as well, and tried my best to give a few options in different price ranges! Amazon usually ended up having the cheapest option if you’re on a budget.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure by clicking here.
Before you read: items marked with a * are things you’ll want to check with your dorm/apartment rules about because they might not be allowed. Also be sure to check the sizing of items before you buy them! Most dorms use twin XL beds, so I tried to link to products of that size.
I would also recommend getting a free 6-month trial for Amazon Prime Student if you haven’t taken advantage of that yet. The free two-day shipping is fantastic and you’ll save money too!
The Ultimate College Shopping List
For Your Bed
- Sleeping pillow
- Decorative pillows – Amazon | Urban Outfitters
- Pillow protector – Amazon
- Mattress protector – Amazon
- Comforter/Duvet – Amazon | Target | Urban Outfitters (I have this one!)
- Coordinating Sheets – Amazon | Target
- Comfy blanket – Amazon | Target
- Mattress pad – Amazon
For Your Bathroom
- Face/Bath/Hand towels – Amazon
- Shower shoes – Amazon
- Shower caddy – Amazon (I use this one) | Target (plastic)
- Bath robe – Amazon
- Mouth wash – Tom’s of Maine
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste – Tom’s of Maine
- Floss
- Face cleanser – Mario Badescu (a fave)
- Chapstick
- Face wipes – Simple
- Face mask – Glossier (10% off!)
- Skin toner – Amazon (I use this one everyday!)
- Moisturizer
- Body wash – The Body Shop
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Shaving cream + razors
- Hairspray
- Hair products for your hair type
- Hair brush + comb
- Straightener – Amazon
- Curling iron – Amazon
- Blow dryer – Amazon
For Your Room
- Drawer liners – Amazon
- Over the door mirror – Target
- Rug – Target
- Laundry bin – Amazon
- Laundry bag – Amazon
- Comfy chair – Amazon | Target
- Mini ottomans – Amazon
- TV
- Trash can + recycling bin (your dorm may have these!)
- Mini fan – Amazon
- Rolling cart/Pantry/Craft storage/whatever you want it to be (this cart is my favorite thing ever, you can see it styled in my dorm tour here) – Turquoise | Beige | Dark gray
For Your Closet
- Scarf hanger – Amazon
- Regular hangers – Amazon
- Shoe organizer – Target, seen here in my apartment!
- Jewelry organizer
For Your Desk
- Desk organizers – Amazon
- Mouse + mouse pad
- Lamp (check your dorm for lightbulb requirements) – Amazon | Amazon
- Bulletin board – Amazon
- Coasters – Amazon
- Push pins – Amazon
For Your Kitchen
- Coffee mugs
- To-go coffee cup – Amazon
- Plates
- Cups
- Bowls
- Silverware
- Microwaveable tupperware – Amazon
- Microwaveable steamer – Amazon
- Microwaveable soup bowl – Amazon
- Coffee maker – Amazon (large) | Amazon (mini)
- Microwave*
- Mini fridge*
- Dish detergent
- Dish wand – Amazon
- Kitchen towels
- Food
- Pots + pans – Amazon
- Cupcake pan – Amazon
- Oven mitts
- Baking supplies
- Cooking oils + seasonings
For You
- Pain medicine
- Cold medicine
- Allergy medicine
- Stomach medicine
- First aid kit – Amazon
- Band-aids
- Eyedrops
- Thermometer
- Deoderant
- Foundation
- Eyeliner
- Mascara
- Eye shadow
- Feminine products
- Tissues
- Manicure set – Amazon
- Nail polish remover – Amazon
- Nail polish – Amazon
- Cotton balls
For School
- Folders
- Binders
- Notebooks – Amazon
- Planner
- Calendar
- Graph paper
- Pens – Amazon
- Pencils
- Highlighters – Amazon
- Stapler – Amazon
- Three hole puncher – Amazon
- Tape
- Sticky notes – Amazon
- Scissors – Amazon
- Paper clips
- Index cards
- Calculator – Amazon
- White-out
Tech
- Surge protector power strip* – Amazon
- Extension cord* – Amazon
- Laptop + charger
- Phone + charger
- Headphones
- Camera
- Movies
- TV cable
- Alarm clock
Other Stuff
- Brita filter – Amazon
- Stain remover
- Lint roller
- Umbrella – Amazon
- Lock (if your dorm has a lockable drawer) – Amazon
- Dryer sheets
- Disinfecting wipes
- Storage bins
- Broom
- Water bottle – Swell (a personal fave)
- Tool kit
- Plastic hooks – Amazon
- Weekender bag – Vera Bradley | Herschel | Vera Bradley
- Backpack – The North Face | The North Face (I have this one) | Herschel
My Personal Favorites
- An ID Wallet – Vera Bradley
- A portable charger – Amazon
- Literally anything from Society6 – they just have stuff that goes with any room theme imaginable, like most of the pieces in these pictures:
Some Helpful Discounts
Glossier – 10% off with this link
Parabo Press (square photo prints) – $10 with code UKWRRN
Society6 – $10 off with this link
To make your life a little easier, I put together a printable version of this entire list! To grab yours, just click here!
Of course, before buying anything, make sure you know how big your room will be. You don’t want to buy something that takes up half the room! You can also check out these posts for more college advice:
How To Prepare For A Successful Semester In College
The Ultimate Guide To Buying College Textbooks
How To To Prepare For College Move-In Day
My Dorm Room Tour
The Ultimate List Of College Student Discounts
My College Apartment Tour